Sarga 9

Verse 1

वाली नाम मम भ्राता ज्येष्ठश्शत्रुनिषूदनः।पितुर्बहुमतो नित्यं ममापि च तथा पुरा4.9.1।।

My elder brother, named Vālī—an annihilator of enemies—was always held in high esteem by our father, and formerly by me as well.

Verse 2

पितर्युपरतेऽस्माकं ज्येष्ठोऽयमिति मन्त्रिभिः।कपीनामीश्वरो राज्ये कृतः परमसम्मतः4.9.2।।

When our father had passed away, the ministers—agreeing that ‘this one is the elder’—appointed him as lord of the monkeys in the kingdom, with the full assent of all.

Verse 3

राज्यं प्रशासतस्तस्य पितृपैतामहं महत्।अहं सर्वेषु कालेषु प्रणतः प्रेष्यवत् स्थितः4.9.3।।

While he governed the great kingdom inherited from our forefathers, I remained at all times bowed and obedient—standing by him like a servant.

Verse 4

मायावी नाम तेजस्वी पूर्वजो दुन्दुभेः सुतः।तेन तस्य महद्वैरं स्त्रीकृतं विश्श्रुतं पुरा4.9.4।।

There was a powerful one named Māyāvī, the elder son of Dundubhi; long ago, a great enmity—famous and bitter—arose between him and Vālī, caused by a quarrel over a woman.

Verse 5

स तु सुप्तजने रात्रौ किष्किन्धाद्वारमागतः।नर्दति स्म सुसंरब्धो वालिनं चाह्वयद्रणे4.9.5।।

One night, when the people were asleep, he came to the gate of Kiṣkindhā; raging, he roared aloud and challenged Vālī to battle.

Verse 6

प्रसुप्तस्तु मम भ्राता नर्दितं भैरवस्वनम्।श्रुत्वा न ममृषे वाली निष्पपात जवात्तदा4.9.6।।

Though asleep, my brother Vālī, on hearing that terrifying roar, could not endure it and at once sprang out in haste.

Verse 7

स तु वै निस्सृतः क्रोधात्तं हन्तुमसुरोत्तमम्।वार्यमाणस्तत स्त्रीभिर्मया च प्रणतात्मना4.9.7।।

In anger he came out to slay that foremost demon, even as the women and I—submissive in spirit—tried to restrain him.

Verse 8

स तु निर्धूय ताः सर्वा निर्जगाम महाबलः।ततोऽहमपि सौहार्दान्निस्सृतो वालिना सह4.9.8।।

That mighty one brushed aside all of them and went out; then I too, out of brotherly affection, came out along with Vālī.

Verse 9

स तु मे भ्रातरं दृष्ट्वा मां च दूरादवस्थितम्।असुरो जातसन्त्रासः प्रदुद्राव ततो भृशम्4.9.9।।

But when the demon saw my brother—and me standing at a distance—he was seized by fear and fled swiftly away.

Verse 10

तस्मिन् द्रवति सन्त्रस्ते ह्यावां द्रुततरं गतौ।प्रकाशश्च कृतो मार्गश्चन्द्रेणोद्गच्छता तदा4.9.10।।

When he fled in fear, we too ran after him even faster; and then, as the moon rose, the path became illuminated.

Verse 11

स तृणैरावृतं दुर्गं धरण्या विवरं महत्।प्रविवेशासुरो वेगादावामासाद्य विष्ठितौ4.9.11।।

That asura, in haste, entered a great opening in the earth—hard to access and covered with grass; we reached the spot and stood our ground there.

Verse 12

तं प्रविष्टं रिपुं दृष्ट्वा बिलं रोषवशं गतः।मामुवाच तदा वाली वचनं क्षुभितेन्द्रियः4.9.12।।

Seeing that enemy enter the cave, Vālī fell under the power of anger; his senses in turmoil, he then spoke these words to me.

Verse 13

इह त्वं तिष्ठ सुग्रीव बिलद्वारि समाहितः।यावत्तत्र प्रविश्याहं निहन्मि सहसा रिपुम्4.9.13।।

“Stay here, Sugrīva, at the cave’s mouth, fully alert, until I enter within and swiftly slay the enemy.”

Verse 14

मया त्वेतद्वचश्श्रुत्वा याचितस्स परन्तपः।शापयित्वा तु मां पद्भ्यां प्रविवेश बिलं महत्4.9.14।।

Hearing these words, I begged him; but that scorcher of foes made me swear at his feet—and then entered the great cave.

Verse 15

तस्य प्रविष्टस्य बिलं साग्रस्संवत्सरो गतः।स्थितस्य मम बिलद्वारि स कालो व्यत्यवर्तत4.9.15।।

After he entered the cave, more than a full year passed; as I stood waiting at the cave’s entrance, that entire span of time went by.

Verse 16

अहं तु नष्टं ज्ञात्वा तं स्नेहादागतसम्भ्रमः।भ्रातरं न च पश्यामि पापाशङ्कि च मे मनः4.9.16।।

Thinking him lost (even dead), I was shaken with grief out of affection; and since I did not see my brother, my mind became filled with fearful suspicions.

Verse 17

अथ दीर्घस्य कालस्य बिलात्तस्माद्विनिस्सृतम्।सफेनं रुधिरं रक्तमहं दृष्ट्वा सुदुःखितः।।4.9.17।।

Then, after a long time, I saw foaming blood flowing out from that cave, and I was overwhelmed with sorrow.

Verse 18

नर्दतामसुराणां च ध्वनिर्मे श्रोत्रमागतः।निरस्तस्य च सङ्ग्रामे क्रोशतोनिस्स्वनो गुरोः4.9.18।।

To my ears came only the roar of the demons; I did not hear the cry—nor any voice—of my elder brother as he fought in battle.

Verse 19

अहं त्ववगतो बुद्ध्या चिह्नैस्तैर्भ्रातरं हतम्।पिधाय च बिलद्वारं शिलया गिरिमात्रया4.9.19।।शोकार्तश्चोदकं कृत्वा किष्किन्धामागतस्सखे।गूहमानस्य मे तत्त्वं यत्नतो मन्त्रिभिश्श्रुतम्4.9.20।।

O friend, by those signs I concluded that my brother had been slain. I sealed the cave’s entrance with a rock as huge as a mountain; then, stricken with grief, I performed the water-offering rites and returned to Kiṣkindhā. Though I tried to conceal the truth, the ministers discovered it through careful effort.

Verse 20

अहं त्ववगतो बुद्ध्या चिह्नैस्तैर्भ्रातरं हतम्।पिधाय च बिलद्वारं शिलया गिरिमात्रया4.9.19।।शोकार्तश्चोदकं कृत्वा किष्किन्धामागतस्सखे।गूहमानस्य मे तत्त्वं यत्नतो मन्त्रिभिश्श्रुतम्4.9.20।।

O friend, by those signs I concluded that my brother had been slain. I sealed the cave’s entrance with a rock as huge as a mountain; then, stricken with grief, I performed the water-offering rites and returned to Kiṣkindhā. Though I tried to conceal the truth, the ministers discovered it through careful effort.

Verse 21

ततोऽहं तैस्समागम्य सम्मतैरभिषेचितः।राज्यं प्रशासतस्तस्य न्यायतो मम राघव4.9.21।।आजगाम रिपुं हत्वा वाली तमसुरोत्तमम्।।

Then, when they had assembled, those ministers—by common consent—consecrated me. While I was ruling the kingdom in accordance with law, O Rāghava, Vāli returned after killing that foremost of demons, the enemy.

Verse 22

अभिषिक्तं तु मां दृष्ट्वा वाली संरक्तलोचनः।मदीयान्मन्त्रिणो बद्ध्वा परुषं वाक्यमब्रवीत्4.9.22।।

But when Vāli saw me consecrated, his eyes reddened with rage; he bound my ministers and spoke harsh words to me.

Verse 23

निग्रहेऽपि समर्थस्य तं पापं प्रति राघव।न प्रावर्तत मे बुद्धिर्भ्रातुर्गौरवयन्त्रिता4.9.23।।

O Rāghava, though I was capable of restraining that sinner, my judgment did not move against him—held back by reverence for my brother.

Verse 24

हत्वा शत्रुं स मे भ्राता प्रविवेश पुरं तदा4.9.24।।मानयंस्तं महात्मानं यथावच्चाभ्यवादयम्।उक्ताश्च नाशिषस्तेन सन्तुष्टेनान्तरात्मना4.9.25।।

After killing the enemy, my brother then entered the city.

Verse 25

हत्वा शत्रुं स मे भ्राता प्रविवेश पुरं तदा4.9.24।।मानयंस्तं महात्मानं यथावच्चाभ्यवादयम्।उक्ताश्च नाशिषस्तेन सन्तुष्टेनान्तरात्मना4.9.25।।

Honouring that great one, I greeted him with due respect as was proper; yet he did not utter blessings to me with a heart that was truly pleased.

Verse 26

नत्वा पादावहं तस्य मकुटेनास्पृशं प्रभोअपि वाली मम क्रोधान्न प्रसादं चकार सः4.9.26।।

O lord, bowing down, I touched his feet with my crown; even so, Vālī, in anger toward me, showed no favor.